REVOLT IN SPAIN.

Wairarapa Age, 22 July 1936, Page 5

REVOLT IN SPAIN.

Government Fighting For Life. ALL LOYALISTS UNDER THIRTY TO MOBILISE. GREAT BATTLE EXPECTED AT MADRID. REBELS HOLDING MANY CITIES. (Received Tuesday, 5(5 p.m.) London; July 20. That the Spanish Government is fighting for its life is indicated by an order for the mobilisation of all loyalists under thirty. The Government gained control of Madrid as a result of three hours of desperate fighting in whieh the rebels in possession of the Maria Cristina and Montana Barracks, under General Fanjul, were ‘ defeated after the officers had been deserted by many of their soldiers, who joined the Republican ranks. A thousand officers and men were arrested after the insurgents had issued a manifesto from the adjacent aerodrome of the Four Winds, demanding the resignation of the Cabinet and the arrest of the Communist chiefs, under pain of an aerial bombardment of the capital. Loyalists occupied -the aerodrome. The Ministry of the Interior announces the death of the Monarchist leader, General San Jurgo, in an air crash while flying to Spain from Portgoal in order to participate in the revolution. ♦ The correspondent of the “Daily Mail” at Tolosa says a formidable force of rebel infantry is reported to be encircling Madrid, where the greatest alarm prevails. A battle which may decide the destiny of Spain is expected hourly. The parade grounds of the principal barracks are littered with dead and dying as a result of to-day’s fighting, which established the temporary supremacy of the Government.

Cities still in the hands of the insurgents are Malaga, which is partly aflame, Salamanca, Santander, Seville, Cordoba, Saragossa and Valladolid. The issue hangs in the balance at Valencia and Bilbao. Both sides are savagely contending for Barcelona, the Manchester of Spain. Government aeroplanes bombing the city set fire to a church and barracks The Governor of. Cadiz, aided by Civil Guards, maintains resistance against the rebels. The Tangier military rebels fully control the Spanish zone in Morocco, though four Government warships and a destroyer, whose crews placefl the officers under arrest, bombarded Ceuta throughout the day. An aeroplane which bombed a mosque, arousing the Sultan’s protest, was brought down by machine-gun fire at El Kasr.

The Government assertion that the navy is entirely loyal is discounted by the rebels having crossed to Spain from Morocco aboard a destroyer given them by naval officers.